Rami Cassis, an international growth investor and founder of Parabellum Investments, has announced his entrance into the luxury goods market by acquiring the fashion retailer Hervia.Cassis plans to diversify heavily into the luxury market over the next 12 months and is attracted to the strong growth potential of the UK’s fashion sector.
He will take Hervia into its next phase of expansion by striking new partnerships with emerging designers in the UK, France, and Italy, and exploring new segments such as childrenswear. He also plans on further strengthening Hervia’s customer experience by investing in the brand’s online platform.The deal was made through Cassis’ private family office, Parabellum Investments, and is his first in the fashion industry. Cassis has held a number of executive positions and has successfully grown a portfolio across a range of sectors spanning enterprise software, technology, and energy.Hervia is a luxury fashion e-tailer with an extensive customer base across the UK, Europe, North America, and Asia, as well as a flagship store, Hervia Bazaar, in Manchester. It sells clothing, jewellery, and accessories from designers such as Raf Simons, Maison Margiela, Rick Owens, and Yohji Yamamoto.The company was founded in 1993 by Oscar Pinto-Hervia, who retains a stake in the group and will remain group CEO. It was the first retailer to stock debut collections from Alexander McQueen, Helmut Lang, and Hussein Chalayan, among others, and will continue its strong heritage of finding and supporting the next generation of talent in the fashion industry.
Alongside Hervia’s Manchester store and its online platform, the deal also includes the operation of the Adidas Y-3 flagship store in Mayfair, London, which sells the largest selection of Y-3 products to the UK market.Cassis is a private investor and has a strong track record of positioning businesses for future growth. His current portfolio includes automation firm Parseq, serialisation specialist Advanco, and digital transformation firm ieDigital. He plans on bringing his extensive experience in operational efficiency and supply chain intelligence to help strengthen the traceability of fashion products.Rami Cassis, founder of Parabellum Investments, said: “I’ve always had a strong interest in fashion, so this is a great opportunity to pair my business expertise with a personal passion.“Hervia has a rich legacy as a brand and strong foundations as a business, and our ambitious plans are based on driving future organic growth as well as exploring new acquisitions for Hervia. I look forward to investing in the business from top to bottom, including improving the customer experience, entering new segments of the market, and adding to an already excellent team.“Oscar has created an amazing business and has a natural eye for fledgling industry talent, and he’ll remain a core part of Hervia’s DNA. His vision around sourcing and encouraging young British designers will help us continue discovering the best emerging designers and up-and-coming brands to partner with.”Oscar Pinto-Hervia, CEO of Hervia, said: “It’s an exciting time for Hervia as we look to onboard fresh, new brands and open additional stores. I was struck by Rami’s enthusiasm and his growth plans for Hervia align with our ambitious vision for the company. His strong track record of leading and managing companies ensures he’s a great fit to take us forward into the next phase of expansion.”
